Chapter 56: Accepting Disciples (A Congratulation to Alliance Leader Stiff Night! )
Chapter 56: Accepting Disciples (A Congratulation to Alliance Leader Stiff Night! )
Two months later.
Three Yuan City, A Certain Martial Arts Hall.
The interior was still deserted, sparrows could be caught at the door.
Fang Xi didn't care in the slightest.
At this moment, he was lying in a grand tutor's chair, removing the book covering his face, a hint of joy in his eyes: "Ever since I deciphered the Three Talents Array Pattern, I can finally understand a bit of that inherited manual. . ."
Although the bit he understood was only the beginning, Fang Xi still maintained great enthusiasm.
In truth, he knew that even for a great Foundation Establishment cultivator, even with the aid of Divine Consciousness, making progress in the four cultivation arts still depended on one's innate talent and the resources invested later on!
For example, a Foundation Establishment alchemist might quickly refine first-order pills. After investing a large amount of resources, they might even attempt to refine second-order pills, but the input and output might not even break even.
Not to mention, the path of formations was even more unique.
His own aptitude clearly belonged to the 'thankless task' type.
But. . . what else could he do now?
Since he only had this first-order formation inheritance, he could only bite the bullet and keep studying it.
"Hmph. . . Ha. . ."
On the training ground in the martial arts hall's front yard, it wasn't completely empty.
At this time, there was still a girl in red, practicing her fist techniques against a wooden dummy.
Her physique far surpassed that of her peers, her cheeks were flushed, and while not exquisitely beautiful, she possessed a certain charm.
"Master, how was my performance?"
The girl finished a set of fist techniques and looked at Fang Xi expectantly.
"Excellent, excellent. . . " Fang Xi praised without much sincerity: "To perform this set of 'Primordial Unity Fist' so vividly and impressively, I imagine it won't be long before you can initially grasp your blood-qi and enter the First Transformation level. In the future, refining your True Force and becoming a renowned martial hero of the jianghu will surely be within sight, within sight indeed. . ."
This girl was named Sun Hong Die, the daughter of his next-door neighbor, Old Man Sun.
Previously, she didn't know what madness had possessed her to want to learn martial arts, but the Sun family didn't have enough money for the enrollment fees of those large and small martial arts halls.
Coincidentally, Fang Xi's martial arts hall was right next door, making it convenient for Sun Hong Die to go home, and the fees were also quite cheap.
Thus, both sides hit it off immediately, and Sun Hong Die enrolled in A Certain Martial Arts Hall.
Furthermore. . .
"Hong Die, the firewood at home isn't all chopped yet!"
Suddenly, a man's head poked over the adjacent wall. It was none other than Old Man Sun.
"Oh!"
Sun Hong Die had no choice but to put down her martial arts dream and go back to carry water and chop firewood. . .
By the time she returned, she hadn't even practiced for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.
"Hong Die, it's time to cook. . ."
This time, the head poking out from next door belonged to a woman, Sun Hong Die's mother.
"Oh!"
Hong Die replied, a hint of annoyance already on her face.
She was just about to leave when she suddenly narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Fang Xi like a fox: "Master. . . did you make arrangements with my family? Did you deliberately trick me into practicing martial arts?"
She had long suspected it; this martial arts hall's fees were actually only one-tenth of other martial arts halls, and for her family, they even gave an additional thirty percent discount on top of that!
This was simply too cheap!
"Well. . . no, not at all. You must believe your master."
Fang Xi widened his eyes, seemingly filled with sincerity.
"I believe you a ghost! This 'Primordial Unity Fist' doesn't seem very powerful either. . ."
Sun Hong Die muttered to herself.
At this moment, Old Man Sun from next door chuckled as he walked into the martial arts hall: "Virtuous Nephew Fang Leng, would you like to have a drink tonight? I just chopped up some excellent braised pig's head meat here!"
"Mm, splendid! " Fang Xi put down his book and responded with a smile.
"That's wonderful, then I'll tell my old woman to fry two more dishes!"
Old Man Sun laughed heartily.
In reality, he was very shrewd in his calculations. Although this Fang Leng was an outsider and his martial arts hall had no apprentices, he was rich!
He had inquired and learned that this residence wasn't rented, but bought!
Furthermore, to be able to open a martial arts hall, he must know martial arts and be in good health!
Rich, young, handsome, healthy. . . what was this? This was an excellent son-in-law candidate!
His Hong Die was already fifteen and hadn't married yet; he was practically dying of anxiety.
And this girl was even madly shouting about wanting to practice martial arts. Was being a martial artist something a woman should do?
But in the end, he agreed, not because A Certain Martial Arts Hall's fees were cheap, but because 'the pavilion closest to the water gets the moon first'!
As for the tuition fees? What was given now, wouldn't it be ferociously recouped later? The other party would even have to beg him to take it!
Thinking of this, Old Man Sun couldn't help but smugly stroke his beard.
Sun Hong Die glared at her father, always feeling that he was brewing some conspiracy.
She didn't know that Old Man Sun already intended to bundle up and sell off his 'salted egg' daughter. . .
The braised pig's head meat was fragrant, and the home-brewed yellow wine from Old Zhang's family at the alley entrance was also quite good.
Fang Xi ate quite happily, though Old Man Sun occasionally sending Sun Hong Die over to pick up food and pour wine was a little annoying.
But he didn't care. He was Sun Hong Die's teacher; 'one day as teacher, a lifetime as father'.
It was only proper for a daughter to serve her father a meal, wasn't it?
...
Night.
After eating and drinking to his heart's content, Fang Xi hummed a little tune along the way, about to fumble for his keys to open the martial arts hall's main gate, when he suddenly looked to the side.
In the cold night wind, there seemed to be two dark objects wriggling, like stray dogs.
"Homeless children?"
How astonishing was Fang Xi's eyesight? He immediately saw that the things curled up in the corner in the darkness were not stray cats or dogs, but. . . people!
They were two emaciated children, their clothes tattered and ragged, like little beggars, huddled in the corner to shelter from the wind and find warmth.
"You. . . where are you beggars from?"
Fang Xi walked over and asked the slightly older one.
The older one, with messy hair, raised his head and revealed an ingratiating smile: "Sir. . . we're from the Earth God Temple, but the Earth God Temple is now occupied by some outside beggars. . . Please be kind, give us something to eat. . ."
This slightly older beggar looked like a twelve or thirteen-year-old child, but Fang Xi, observing through his blood-qi, judged him to be around fifteen. This was due to long-term malnutrition.
"Life is tough in the mortal world. . . What's your name? " Fang Xi remembered Zhang Ming Ding and couldn't help but ask.
"Qing. . . Qingsang!"
Qingsang looked at the big man, his eyes filled with pleading.
If they didn't get any food soon, they might starve to death the next day.
However, he watched the other party open the main gate, walk inside, and then. . . bang!
The door slammed shut.
Qingsang lowered his head, the hope in his eyes gradually dissipating. . .
"Big brother. . . I'm hungry!"
The smaller beggar murmured, unsure if he was dazed from hunger or dreaming.
The cold wind persisted.
Who knew how much time had passed.
Thud!
From inside the walled courtyard, a few white, fluffy things were thrown out, landing at their feet.
"These are. . . steamed buns? A'Dai, quick, wake up. . . there are steamed buns to eat."
Qingsang snatched up a steamed bun and crammed it into his mouth. How long had it been since he experienced this sweet and fulfilling sensation?
A'Dai, beside him, also clutched a steamed bun and gnawed desperately, seemingly no longer human, but a beast!
...
The next day.
Early morning.
Fang Xi opened the martial arts hall's main gate and stretched comfortably in the sunlight.
"Si. . . Sir!"
A timid voice sounded beside him.
"Oh? It's you two? Still not leaving?"
Fang Xi's eyes narrowed slightly.
A sheng of rice creates kindness, a dou of rice creates enmity.
If this beggar thought he was easygoing and wanted to get a long-term meal ticket, then. . .
"Thank you, Benefactor, for the meal yesterday!"
Qingsang, bringing A'Dai along, kowtowed twice with loud thuds, then rose and prepared to leave.
Having mingled in the streets for many years, he understood clearly that one could not always rely on others' kindness and charity. . .
"Wait!"
At this moment, Fang Xi suddenly called out to the two: "You've seen it yourselves, I run a martial arts hall. Since fate has brought us together, I'll teach you a move!"
Little beggars out on the street were easily bullied by adult beggars, being young and weak.
Qingsang immediately stopped, his gaze fixed on Fang Xi, shining brightly.
Fang Xi didn't hesitate. He extended his right hand, his five fingers closing into a fist, swung it back, and then fiercely lashed it out!
Bang!
The air let out an explosive crack.
"This 'Moon-Stealing Style' is most suitable for people of short stature. . . When executing it, remember that the force should originate from your feet, extending up to your waist. . ."
He explained a few points carefully.
This was not some Blood-Qi Martial Art, merely a few supplementary small techniques.
Even if mastered, it wouldn't allow one to enter the First Blood-Qi Transformation, and could instead potentially damage one's own body.
It was akin to a 'killing move'!
However. . . one had to admit it was extremely effective! As long as one mastered it, it might not work against experts, but against those who didn't know martial arts, it would nab them with absolute certainty!
Especially this 'Moon-Stealing Style', when unleashed by children, it specifically attacked the lower body, and a moment's inattention could lead to the risk of one's manhood being crushed. . .
If it were used in a proper martial arts competition, the audience would surely curse the user to high heavens.
But what did beggars care about such things?
As for damaging their bodies? If they couldn't get food, Qingsang and his companion might very well starve to death in a few days. . .
Compared to immediate death, future damage was utterly insignificant.
"Alright, be off!"
After teaching the two beggars, Fang Xi directly returned to his martial arts hall.
This time, it was nothing more than a sudden whim, a casual act.
He also wanted to see what kind of future the seeds he had now sown would become.
Back in the martial arts hall, he spread out white paper in his quiet room, held a brush, and began practicing calligraphy!
Yes, that's right, practicing calligraphy!
According to the secrets passed down by Linghu Shan and found in the Yuan He Five Thunder Hand manual, the fourth step of a martial master, the Spirit and Strength Conjunction, mainly relied on comprehension.
But there was also a secret method to speed up progress.
Yuan He Mountain's secret method was—practicing calligraphy!
Through continuous writing, adjusting the true strength in one's wrist and fingers, combining it with the brush, one strove to make every written character possess both form and spirit!
According to Linghu Shan, he himself had once, while drunk, spontaneously splashed ink, copied an ancient scholar's prose-poem, and then broke through on the spot. . .
"Spirit and strength conjoin, hand and force unite, finally landing on paper. . ."
Fang Xi looked at the character'yong'he had written, frowning. It was severely crooked and wobbly.
But there was no helping it. When putting brush to paper, one also had to control the true strength in their wrist to operate according to a special pattern, which was inherently a very troublesome task.
It was like asking an ordinary person to write with dozens of jin of stone tied to their arm; being able to write anything at all would be impressive.
"It seems. . . I still need to accumulate more."
Fang Xi thought, feeling a hint of helplessness.
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